Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 02:56 am
This year, a team of 120 volunteers worked together to ensure the iconic Pyramid Stage Field at Glastonbury Festival was cleared of rubbish each day. The volunteers, recruited by Shepton Mallet’s SOS Africa Children’s Charity, worked for 6 hours each morning over the 4-day weekend.
Emma Sankey, who took part in the litter picking for the first time this year, said: “Joining the SOS Africa team was an absolute honour, and a particularly meaningful way to experience the festival. To kick off each morning restoring the Pyramid field to its former glory for the day ahead was so rewarding. Just knowing I’d done my bit. I made some friends for life, and we laughed until we cried and left feeling both exhausted and enriched in equal measure.”
Bruce Philip, who has taken part in the litter picking for 7 years, added: “The camaraderie of the team and sense of satisfaction as you look back at the field picked clean of litter, makes you feel like that you’ve contributed just a little to the magic of the festival, while the real magic is happening far away with the tangible changes made to children’s lives through the funds raised and exceptional work that SOS Africa do in providing education and hope for future generations of South Africans.”
The volunteers were rewarded for their efforts with complimentary meals and hot showers. Moreover, the funds raised from this year’s litter picking were enough to fund over 80 years of school tuition for the SOS Africa children, reaching an impressive fundraising milestone of £100,000 since the initiative began in 2013.
On behalf of the SOS Africa Trustees, staff and children, a big thank you and congratulations was extended to the volunteers for their hard work. As the last can was recycled, the familiar question of “can we come back again next year please?” was asked – the answer being of course yes!
